Francis R. Powers
Clerk of Courts
Plymouth County Superior Court
Powers, Francis R. “Frank” of Scituate (Humarock) formerly of Dorchester and Dedham, March 28, at the age of 84. Beloved husband of Clare (Faherty) Sheehan Powers. Dear father of Deborah Polcari of Marshfield, Francis R. Powers Jr. DDS and his wife Michele of Marshfield, John R. Powers of Humarock, Jean Powers and her husband James Scott of Marshfield, Kimberly DeMichele and her husband Stephen of Dublin, Ohio., Lynn DuBois and her husband James “Randy” of Marshfield, Katie Sheehan Curran and her husband Bart of Hanson and Thomas A. Sheehan Jr. and his wife Jaana of Northfield, MA. Loving grandfather of Dr. Charles “CJ” Polcari and Dr. Christine of Norwell, Anthony Polcari and Rachael of Marshfield, Brenden Powers and Noel Powers of Marshfield, Erin McDonough of S. Boston, Lyndsay Picard and John of Marshfield, Robert McDonough Jr. of Marshfield, Lauren, Kristina and Sarah DeMichele of Dublin, Ohio, Lori DuBois of S. Boston and James DuBois and Michael DuBois of Marshfield. Great grandfather of Avery and Camryn Picard of Marshfield. Son of the late Edward and Delia (O’Hare) Powers. Brother of Cecelia Reiling of Little Compton, RI., the late Edward Powers Jr., the late Margaret Powers and the late Rita Kiley. Father–in-law of the late Francis Polcari. Also survived by his former wife Jean M. Powers of Duxbury, many other close family members, his extended family at the Plymouth and Brockton Superior Court Houses and his remaining B-24 Crewmembers from the U.S. Army Air Corp.
Frank graduated from Boston Latin School, class of 1942, Harvard University class of 1949 and Suffolk University Law School class of 1951. He was a 1st LT, US Army Air Corps, Combat Veteran, 757 Bombardment Squadron, 459 Bombardment Group, WW II. European Theater. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and was awarded 4 Air Medals for flying 32 combat missions. Mr. Powers is the Clerk of Superior Courts for Plymouth County; he was elected to that position in 1976 and has served continuously since that time being re-elected to a six year term in 2006. He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association and a lifetime member of the Plymouth County Democratic League. A former partner in the Law Firm of Powers and Sheehan, a former Police Commissioner and Selectman for the Town of Dedham, MA. He was a former employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a former Employee of the Boston Housing Authority.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at 11:00 am in St Christine's Church 1295 Main St (Rte 3A) Marshfield.
There will be no procession from the MacDonald Funeral Home to the church prior to the Mass.
Visiting hours for Mr. Powers will be at the MacDonald Funeral Home 1755 Ocean St (Rte 139) Marshfield Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.
Interment will be in the Couch Cemetery, Marshfield.
Contributions in Francis R. Powers’ memory may be made to:
Operation Hope C/O Richard Martin, Veterans Agent, Marshfield Town Hall Marshfield, MA. 02050.
Or to:
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation MA. Affiliate PO Box 845037 Boston, MA. 02284.
Obituary
For the past quarter century the residents of Humarock Beach always knew when summer had officially returned by the sighting of a tall distinguished looking gentleman taking his inaugural plunge into the frigid Atlantic ocean. When new beach goers would inquire “who is that man, he looks like someone famous?” The residents usually had a standard response,”Oh That’s Frank Powers, Clerk of Courts, he has lived here many years but his heart is in Dorchester.”
Mr. Powers, the Clerk of Superior Court for Plymouth County died at his home in Humarock after a brief illness at the age of 84. He was elected to his first six-year term in 1976, and was successfully re-elected to this position for five additional six-year terms. In 2006, Mr. Powers defeated opponents in the Democratic primary and the general election by sizeable margins. He enjoyed the distinction of being the senior Superior Court Clerk in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts both in years of service and age.
Born in Boston, Mr. Powers was very proud of his Irish heritage and his Dorchester roots. He shared a simple belief that everyone had a relative from Dorchester and those who didn’t needed one, because Dorchester represented what America was all about, people.
Mr. Powers was an accomplished scholar, who graduated from Harvard University class of 1949, and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Suffolk University School of Law in 1951. To many people these were impressive credentials, but Mr. Powers considered his graduation from Boston Latin School class of 1942 to be his greatest academic achievement.
In May of 1943, Mr. Powers was inducted into the Army of the United States Air Corp. As a First Lieutenant in the 757 Bombardment Squadron, 459 Bombardment Group, he flew 32 combat missions in the European theater of World War II, and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and awarded four Air Medals. He was promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant for outstanding performance during combat. After service to his country, Mr. Powers returned to civilian life, but the close bond that had been established with his B-24 crewmembers and Squadron continued throughout his life.
Although Mr. Powers was a public figure for most of his adult life he had a very unassuming friendly demeanor and chose to have accolades bestowed on others. His proudest moments were usually spent talking about the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. He was a true family patriarch in every sense of the word.
As the Clerk of Superior Courts for Plymouth County for the past 36 years, Mr. Powers was a beloved Icon at the Plymouth and Brockton courthouses. He fondly referred to all of his employees at the Clerk’s office as “his other kids.” The biggest demand that he constantly made of his employees was that every person that entered the courthouse deserved to be treated with dignity and respect.
In recent years, Mr. Powers enjoyed trips with his wife Clare to many countries in Europe to attend World War II Military Reunions and several trips to Aruba with his entire family. Often times, Mr. Powers could be seen at events honoring the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II who he credited with ensuring his safe return from combat missions during the war.